In 1994 C&NW is still an independent operation, although dependent upon UP for its livelihood to a large extent. UP functioned as a bridge line for Powder River coal traffic between South Morrill, NE and Fremont, NE or Council Bluffs, IA. Here a westbound set of empties from the Dairyland plant in Wisconsin returns to Belle Ayre mine for loading behind a pair of relatively new C&NW Dash9s.